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A descendant of a Slovak citizen automatically acquires Slovak citizenship by birth. They are thus entitled not only to the issuance of a Slovak birth certificate, but also, for example, to a Slovak passport.
To obtain a Slovak birth certificate, the first step is to arrange for a certificate of the child’s Slovak citizenship. This is issued in some cases immediately, however, the statutory period is 30 days.
Subsequently, it is necessary to contact the Registry Office (Matrika) competent according to the parent’s (last) residence for the purpose of issuing the birth certificate. A record of the birth is drawn up at the Registry Office, which contains data about the parents and the child at the time of the child’s birth. The parents must present a valid identity document.
Also read: International Birth Certificate
You can find legal advice on this topic here: Slovak Birth Certificate for a Child Born Abroad – a Lawyer Advises.
Documents needed to issue a Slovak birth certificate
In addition to the above documents, it is also necessary to submit the child’s birth certificate issued in the state of birth. For many countries, an apostille of the birth certificate, or its superlegalisation, is also required. An apostille is not required, for example, from the Czech Republic or Austria.
Verify whether you need an apostille or superlegalisation at the relevant Registry Office. Alternatively, you can find information on the website www.legalizacnecentrum.sk about which countries only require an apostille.
The fact that the child acquired Slovak citizenship by birth (i.e., one of the parents was Slovak at the time of birth) is proven by the ID card or passport of that parent. However, this document must also have been valid at the time of the child’s birth. If the parent does not have an identity document from the period of their daughter’s or son’s birth (for example, they have since exchanged it for a new one), it will also be necessary to submit a certificate of the child’s Slovak citizenship.
To summarize, we thus state that the birth registration of the child will need to be documented to the registry office:
- a completed Child Birth Record form
- the child’s birth certificate (if the child is from a non-EU country, also with an apostille / superlegalization) and an official translation into Slovak, we recommend making a notarized photocopy in Slovakia, as the original will not be returned to you from the registry office
- parents’ identity documents (ID cards, passports) – copies
- child’s identity document – copy
- parents’ birth certificates – copies with translation
- parents’ marriage certificate (Slovak), if married (if divorced, divorce decrees, or death certificates if widower/widow)
- if the parents are not married, a declaration of paternity (an official document issued in the country of the child’s birth) is translated; if not, it is recommended to attach an affidavit of the parents that they are unmarried
Tip
For an application for the registration of a child’s birth and the issuance of their birth certificate, the submission of a certificate of the child’s citizenship is also required since June 1, 2023.
Child Born in England
According to the latest information from our offices, if the child was born in the UK, it is necessary to provide a document on the acquisition of their citizenship, an official confirmation, or a registration document (apostille + translation).
Spelling of the surname of a daughter without the ending “ová”
If the daughter’s surname will not be used with the Slovak ending (i.e. without the “ová”), both parents will sign a declaration about this surname. In this case, it is necessary for both parents to be present at the registry office for registration. If the child is a son, the presence of one of the parents is sufficient.
The district office will send the complete documentation to a special registry office, which will then issue the child with a Slovak birth certificate. With this, a passport can be arranged at the relevant district office.
The process of obtaining a Slovak birth certificate can also be handled on the basis of a power of attorney. However, the power of attorney must not be missing the information provided in the birth registration and, if the daughter’s surname without the ending “ová” is requested, the relevant affidavit.
§ Section 16 of the Civil Registry Act
The female surname of a person of a nationality other than Slovak shall be entered without the Slovak ending,
(a) if requested by the parents when entering the surname of their female child in the birth register pursuant to section 13(1) or by the adoptive parents when entering the surname of the adopted child if the adoption is pursuant to a special regulation,
(b) if the woman so requests when registering the celebration of the marriage in the marriage register under section 14,
(c) if a woman so requests in connection with the registration of a decision to change her surname under a special law.
§ 19
6) In the birth or marriage certificate of the woman to whom this official statement refers, her surname shall be given without the Slovak ending if she so requests in writing; a record of this fact shall be made in the registry office. All other official extracts and certificates of data entered in the civil registry shall be made with that form of the surname. The written request referred to in the first sentence shall be entered in the register of deeds.
(7) A written request under paragraphs (3), (4) and (6) may be made, in the case of a minor, by the minor’s parents.
Obtaining a Slovak passport for a child/descendant
If a Slovak birth certificate has been issued for the child, it is possible to apply for a Slovak passport for the descendant. You can arrange the passport only yourself (in person) with the child at the relevant representative office or in Slovakia at the documents department after obtaining the Slovak birth certificate. Representation is no longer possible, as the child is photographed, and sometimes fingerprints are also taken.
